Don’t let the Rays’ AL East record convince you that this team isn’t a threat. In any other division in baseball, they’d be ranked much higher; they just have the disadvantage of being in the one division where seemingly every other team has more than 80 wins. They’re hovering near the .500 mark, but have had a decent run of wins lately. They are one of those teams that no one should ever count out, because one hot week could really shake things up for them. Are they a true postseason contender? It’s unlikely, given the stiff competition they face in the AL East, but they certainly aren’t going to roll over and admit defeat early. They’ve been both helped and hampered this season by playing in a minor league park (the long ball doesn’t care which team it’s going out for), and they will be over the moon to return to Tropicana Field next year, provided that repairs are completed in time for the 2026 season.
What should Cubs fans be mindful of in this coming series? In terms of pitching this series, one to watch will be Drew Rasmussen. They’ll want to be wary, as he is sneaky good, with a sub-1.000 WHIP and the highest WAR of any pitcher in the rotation. Shane Baz is more of a wild card, having had a rough season thus far. And then there’s Adrian Houser, who might be more familiar to a different Chicago team and is a newer addition for the Rays. He was a deadline acquisition and has been a reliable mid-tier starter. Where Chicago might benefit is from the spate of injuries the Rays have recently incurred. Jonathan Aranda and Talyor Walls are both on the IL, meaning the team is without their starting first baseman (though the Bob Seymour fan club will tell you this could be worse). Walls, while more of a utility guy, has been decently productive in his on-field time, and the Rays are a club that likes a lot of depth on their bench. For the healthy players, Junior Caminero is going to be a menace; he’s leading the team with 41 homers and shows no signs of slowing down. Chandler Simpson has basepath speed and smarts and is always a steal risk, so the Cubs will need their heads on a swivel.
The Cubs might look at the Rays in their position in fourth and think that the weekend series will be an easy one, but they shouldn’t rest on their laurels too much. While the club does fare slightly worse on the road this year, they are still a smart, savvy team that knows how to make the most out of all their moving parts.